Baby-walker



(No Model.)

' J. W. WOOD. BABY WALKER.

lPatented Deo. 5, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. VOOD, OF VESTON, MISSOURI.

BABY-WALKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,991, dated December 5, 1893.

Application `filed T une 10, 1893.

To all whom it may concern:V

Be it known that I, JOHN W. WOOD, of Weston, Platte county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements j in Baby-Walkers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. l

My invention relates to improvements in that class of devices, whereby a baby or child too weak or young for walking may be safely supported, and at the same time may be enabled to move to any part of the room; furthermore a device of this character which is simple, strong, durable and inexpensive of construction. l

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention maybe fully un` derstood, I will proceed to describe it withA reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a plan view of the device constructed in accordance with `my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional View taken on the line :r-m of Fig. l. Fig. 3, is a detail perspective View of one corner of the device, to show more clearly the construction thereof.

In the drawings, a rectangular frame is composed of the bars or rodsl; these bars or rods being firmly secured together in any suitable manner, so as to form the extensions 1i projecting beyond the body portion of the rectangular frame. A top plate or board 2 is arranged horizontally, and is secured in any suitable manner upon said framework, and is formed with a central and circular hole or opening 3. A rectangular framework similar to the framework composed of the bars or rods 1 but on a larger scale is formed of the bars 4, and this framework is also provided with extensions 4. projecting beyond the body-portion thereof and in a manner similar to the extensions la. This framework is arranged horizontally beneath the frame work composed of the bars l a suitable distance, and the sides thereof extend parallel with the sides of said first mentioned framework.

Secured at their upper ends by screws or other suitable means to the adjacent and Serial No. 477,136. (No model.)

outer vertical sides of each pair of extensions 1a are the downwardly diverging and similar guard-bars 5. A pair of these bars 5 depend from each corner of the rectangular framework, and are secured a suitable distance from their lower ends to the outer vertical sides of the extensions 4f of the lower rectangular framework. The lower portions of these bars 5 are formed each with alongitudinally extending slot 6, and an arm or bar 7 has a tongue or pin S projecting into said slots, and near its upper end has a bolt 8 which passes through and is adapted to operate in the slot of the bars 5. A clamping nut 9 is adapted to engage the projecting ends of each bolt 8 to secure the arms or bars at any point of adjustment relative to the bars 5. By arranging the guard-bars 5 so as to project divergently downward and have their lower ends, or the lower ends of their extension arms or bars, adjacent to the floor, it will be seen that it will be impossible for the child therein to tip or turn the device over.

A horizontally arranged guide plate 10 is secured to the adjacent sides of each pair of corner bars 5, and is formed with a vertical guide opening through which the vertical rod 1l passes. This vertical rod l1 also passes throngha guide opening formed through the lower rectangular frame at the Yjunction or crossing point of the bars 4. A collar 1l*L fitting upon the cylindrical rod l1 below the guide bracket 10 is adjustable by means of the set screw, and a similar collar 111 fitting upon the cylindrical rod 11 above the lower frame is also adjustable by means of the set screw. By operating its set screw, the collar 11"L may be moved downward upon the rods 11, which will allow the frame-work consisting of the upper and lower, horizontal frames and the connecting bars 5 to move downward a corresponding distance until the guide brackets 10 rest uponV the collars 11a. By operating the set-screw of the collar 11b the frame-work referred to may be lifted or raised upward upon the rods ll any suitable distance, and by moving and securing the collars 11"L to and against the under side of the guide brackets l0 the framework may be supported in said position, the collar 11b being adapted to limit the upward movement of the framework. The arrangement of the roo ' middle of the body portion of the seat.

collars 11a and 11b allows the structure to be adjusted to different heights.

Secured revolubly upon the lower ends of the rods 1l are the brackets 1.2, which are formed with a pair of parallel ears or extensions between which is journaled a caster roller 13 in the usual manner.V Secured to the under side of the upperframe-work, are the cross barsc14; these cross bars forming a rectangular frame-work similar to the one formed by the cross-bars 1. Projecting inwardly from the inner vertical side of each cross bar 14: isa pin or bolt 15, and mounted to revolve thereon are rollers 16. An annulus or ring 17 of diameter about equal to the opening 3 of the top platerorboard 2 is formed at its upper margin with an outwardly projecting horizontal annular iange 18, and this liange is fitted beneath the under side of the top plate or board, and rests upon the rollers 16. It will thus be seen that this annulus or ring may be easily revolved to any point desired. A seat is formed of a body-portion 1.9 of approximately semi-circular form, and arms 2O projecting laterally from the front end of said body-portion.

Projecting rearwardlyand at right angles preferably to the arms 2O are the extensions or arms 2l; these extensions or arms being formed integral with the arms 2O or secured thereto as desired, and form the spaces 22 at opposite sides of the body-portion 19 of the seat, the object of which will be hereinafter' explained. Secured to the rear ends of the arms or extensions 2l are the lower ends of the straps 23, and secured at their upper ends to clips 24 carried by the annulus or ring 17 are straps 23a which are provided with buckles 25Y at their lower ends, which are adapted to be engaged by the upper or free end of the straps 23. Secured to the outer ends of the arms 20 are the lower ends of straps 26, and secured at their upper ends to clips carried by the annulus or ring 17 are straps 2 6a which are provided with buckles 28 at their lower ends, and these buckles are adapted to be engaged by the upper ends of the straps 26. A liexible connection 29 preferably of rubber tubing, has its upper end passed through a clip or ring 30 carried by the annulus, and has its end turned down and wrapped to the body portion of the tubing by a cord or other suitable means, so that it may be adj usted easily when desired. The lower end of this tubing 29 is secured in any suitable manner to the under side and about the It will thus be seen that this construction provides a yielding support for the child, who is adapted to be placed upon the seat so that his limbs shall be astride of the rubber tubing 29, and so that the rear and side portions of the dress or garments may hang freely in the spaces 22 at the sides of the body-portion of the seat and also to the rear thereof so as not to crumple or disarrange them. The seat is also adapted to be adjusted asuitable distance from the floor so that the feetrof the child may reach the same, and this is accomplislied by adjusting the collars 11a, and 11", as before explained.

ln order to provide a. support forthe head, a U-shaped clip or frame 32 is provided, and the forward ends of this clip or frame are formed with the vertical and depending extensions 33 which engage the vertical clips or retainers 34 secured to the inner side of the annulus in rear of the seat. A iiexible connection or strap 35 is formed with loops in its opposite ends which are slipped upon said U-frame, and arranged to extend from one arm of the frame to the other, and parallel with the front margin of the seat. It will thus be seen lthat should the child turn, the annulus and seat will also turn, and the exible strap or support 35 will always be presented and adapted to receive the head should the child move rearwardly, and prevent its contact with the annulus or the edge of the opening 3 of the top plate or board.

The operation of this device will be readily understood, the child by simply pushing with its feet against the floor moving the device to any part of the room desired, and by simply turning its body Vthe annulus or ring will be revolved so that the child may face in any direction.

This device is peculiarly well adapted in cases where the parents wish the child to learn to walk or rather to learn to step, as the device will readily move by the stepping action of the feet upon the floor, Without learning to crawl, and thus obviating the necessity of a person to constantly watch or keep an eye on the child to prevent it getting into danger or mischief.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have produced a baby walker or device of the character described which is simple, strong, durable and inexpensive of construction, which maybe adj usted to suit children of diiferent heights or sizes, and which it will be impossible for the child to topple over by reason of the guard-bars 5, which or rather the extensions thereof extend to within a slight distance of the iloor and outward of the rollers IOO 13, andwhich therefore would contact with Y the floor should the device be tilted a slight distance.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a baby-walker, the combination of a frame Work mounted upon rollers, and a seat carried by said framework, of a series of downwardly divergent guard-bars secured to the framework, and adapted to prevent the accidental toppling orturning over of the device, substantially as set forth.

2. A baby walker, comprising a suitable f rame-work mounted upon rollers, an annulus or ring revolubly mounted in said frame-work, a seat adj ustably suspended from said annulus or ring and adapted to turn therewith, and

ahead supporting frame eonsistingof a frame secured to the annulus, and a band carried by said frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A baby walker, comprisingr a suitable frame-Work, vertical rods adjustably carried by said frame-Work, and rollers carried at the lower ends of said rods, a seat adj ustably supported from said framework, and guard-bars carried by said frame-work, and adjustable bars carried upon the lower ends of said guardbars, and means to hold said adjustable bars at any desired point of adjustment, substantially as set forth. j

4. A baby walker, comprising a series of vertical rods, a suitable frame-work adjustably mounted upon said rods,in combination with an annulus revolubly mounted within said frame-work, and a seat yieldingly supported by said annulus, and a head rest or support carried by said annulus, and a yielding strap carried by said head support, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A baby walker, comprising a suitable frame-work mounted upon rollers, a top plate or board supported upon said frame-Work, rollers supported by said frame-work, and an annulus or ring having an outwardly extending flange extending under the top plate or board and resting upon the said rollers, and a seat yieldingly supported by the annulus or ring, and having its body portion approximately semieireular, and ayielding head support carried by the annulus or ring, all ar: ranged as described, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Iax my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN W. WOOD. Witnesses:

MAUD FITZPATRICK, M. P. SMITH. 

